Replacement for BS2

[DSGarcia]

I have developed a device that reads a serial string and then displays the string in an LED matrix. The device uses a Basic Stamp (BS2) for the processor and works well so far.

I would like to add a push-button and transmit a character string back to the host when the button is pushed.

Unfortunately, the BS2 cannot monitor the serial input and the push button at the same time. If I timeout the serial input, then it is possible to miss the first character in the string.

That should I do? Is there a serial buffer I can use or should I change processors. If change processors, then to what (I would like something easy for development)?

One other note, I would like to change to RS422 so I can have multiple displays (2 or 3) on the same circuit. I understand the potential of data collisions with two buttons pressed (and two characters transmitted) at the same time, but I can handle that in software.

Thanks,
Dale

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Any 18F series PIC and Swordfish BASIC SE (free) will out perform any BASIC Stamp and you should find going from Parallax BASIC to Swordfish BASIC fairly easy.